The Director of Technology (DoT) is responsible for the strategy, management, and execution of KIPP Public Schools Northern California’s IT Support and Infrastructure. They will manage a nine-person team to provide reliable IT services, exceptional customer service, and collaborative tech support across our 22 Schools and Regional Support Office (RSO), spanning 5 geographic subregions, with over 900 staff and 7,000 students. The DoT will join KIPP’s leadership team during an important phase of growth in which we need to scale our IT service delivery with quality and durability.

The ideal candidate is strategic and systems oriented, has experience in scaling operational IT support and leading a technical team, inclusive of leading quarterly planning and priority setting for the team, managing and developing teammates, and ensuring strong team systems are in place either through building them or holding teammates accountable to building and maintaining them. The DoT should be an excellent project manager and effective communicator, as they will lead or oversee some cross-team initiatives.

This position is located at our Regional Support Office (RSO) in Oakland, with occasional travel to our school sites throughout the Bay Area and Stockton – including San Jose, the Peninsula, San Francisco, East Bay, and Stockton. The Director of Technology reports to the Managing Director of Data and Technology. This is a hybrid role with the expectation that 2-3 days per week be spent onsite at our school campuses or at our Regional Support Office.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

2+ years of experience in a senior IT leadership role with people management responsibilities
6+ years of relevant experience in IT or technical customer support operations and projects
Demonstrated business acumen and technical skills across:
- IT operations, including helpdesk and service delivery model
- Management of Technical Vendors and direct accountability of Network Infrastructure
- Budgetary management and oversight
- Contract negotiation
- Government regulations and compliance (specifically E-Rate)
Experience in an educational environment preferred
Experience with GSuite Admin preferred

Education:

Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience required

Knowledge/skills required:

Adept at thinking strategically, translating plans into action, and exhibiting excellent judgment
Outstanding project management skills and the ability to coordinate and maximize the contributions of others
Success leading change initiatives in a complex environment with diverse stakeholders
Team-oriented, and invested in cultivating strong team culture around strengths-based coaching, continuous learning, and productive collaboration and conflict
Ability to self‐direct, prioritize among competing goals, and exhibit flexibility in a fast‐paced, entrepreneurial environment
Strong results orientation and skilled at analyzing and using data to drive results
Self-aware and reflective, with a commitment to feedback and growth
Excellent written and verbal communication and organization skills
Resourceful with limited budget and resources
Unquestioned integrity and commitment to KIPP NorCal’s mission and values

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Lead and manage Technology Team to drive excellent outcomes

Own the IT vision, strategy, planning, and progress monitoring for the Tech Team, including the team’s Annual Objectives and Key Results (OKRs)
Lead, manage, and develop a high-performing nine-person team, by refining systems for project management, planning, and progress monitoring and maintaining a culture of continuous learning and improvement
Increase efficiency and impact of technology team and Helpdesk operations as we continue to serve more students and stabilize our growing schools
Set and oversee regional IT policies

Own Vision and Lead Strong Execution of our HelpDesk & Tech Support Model

Partner cross-functionally with our Managing Directors and other Directors to bring our Vision and Road Map for a unified HelpDesk at KIPP NorCal to life (e.g. Facilities, HR, etc.)
Own and oversee the execution of this work through the Tech Team
Ensure the IT helpdesk (including both remote and on-site support) delivers high quality customer service and Service Level Agreement adherence

Ensure Student & Staff Hardware & Systems Readiness

Improve our systems & procedures to ensure all employees and students have the devices, and software needed to be effective in their work
Work across teams to Improve our systems & procedures for coordination across HR, Tech, and Data to procedures to provide smooth onboarding/offboarding of employees, from equipment to software accounts
Ensure the team creates and delivers high quality training and content for schools on technology management, care, and usage

Oversee Planning & Execution of IT Infrastructure for reliability and cost-effectiveness

Oversee team and vendors to track the health of our Network Infrastructure
Oversee team and vendors to ensure we have an Annual and Quarterly Road Map in place
Ensure we maintain a stable network infrastructure (network support is currently outsourced to a vendor)
Negotiate and manage regional contracts with key service providers, like ISPs, phone and copier companies, and our network support vendor

Steward financial resources through strong budget management and procurement

Own the organization’s annual $3M technology budget and related investments
Audit life-cycle targets for employee and student devices, classroom technology and infrastructure devices to inform long-term budgeting plans
Partner with our Associate Directors of Technology to determine school-level tech budgets that reflect infrastructure, device, and equipment needs, collaborating with school principals and regional Finance and Real Estate teams
Partner with our Associate Directors of Technology and peers to ensure we procure durable, cost-effective equipment towards industry best standards and practices
Negotiate cost-effective contracts with third-party vendors and service providers
Manage organization’s federal E-Rate program, applying for and supervising disbursements for eligible services and infrastructure projects

Other duties as assigned

Physical, Mental and Environmental Demands

Physical: Ability to navigate office and school campuses, and hold meetings in different spaces. Traditionally, much of the day involves sitting. Ability to access and utilize technology. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 1-20 lbs. Physical agility to move self in various positions in order to execute duties effectively, which may include kneeling, walking, pushing/pulling, squatting, twisting, turning, bending, stooping and reaching overhead

Mental: Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, calculate, perform routine math problems, memorize and recall objects and people.

Environmental: Office or School environment subject to constant interruptions and distractions. Occasional classroom/school environment and travel (25%). KIPP adheres to health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC, CDE, and public health agencies’ recommendations.

Classification

This is a full-time, exempt position based on a full year calendar cycle, based out of our Regional Support Office with occasional travel to schools and districts.

The KIPP Regional Support Office is currently operating in a hybrid fashion. Most positions can expect to work in person 2-3 days per week and remotely the remaining days, subject to change based on the needs of the role.

About KIPP Public Schools Northern California

We are a thriving nonprofit network of 22 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Our student community consists of nearly 7,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San José, Redwood City, and Stockton. 81% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 34% are multilingual learners, and 12% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflect our students’ diversity.

Compensation

KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.

We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is between $132,000 and $162,000. Most candidates would be compensated at $142,000.

We benchmark annually against school districts and charter schools in the regions where we operate, to offer competitive salaries.